Abstract
Vegetation coverage is a key variable in terrestrial ecosystem monitoring and climate change research and is closely related to soil erosion and land desertification. In this article, we aimed to resolve two key scientific issues: (1) quantifying the spatial-temporal vegetation dynamics in the Otindag Sandy Land (OSL); and (2) identifying the relative importance of climate factors and human activities in impacting vegetation dynamics. Based on correlation analysis, simple regression analysis, and the partial derivative formula method, we examined the spatiotemporal variation of vegetation coverage in the OSL, belonging to the arid and semiarid region of northern China, and their interaction with climate-human factors. The results showed that the vegetation coverage of the area showed a downward trend with a rate of −0.0006/a during 2001–2017, and gradually decreased from east to west. Precipitation was the main climate factor controlling the overall distribution pattern of vegetation coverage, while the human factors had a more severe impact on the vegetation coverage than the climate factors in such a short period, and the overall impact was negative. Among the human factors, population pressure, urbanization, industrialization, pastoral production activities, and residents’ lifestyles had a negative impact. However, ecological restoration polices alleviated the contradiction between human development and vegetation deterioration. The results of this article provide a scientific basis for restoring grassland systems in arid and semi-arid areas
Highlights
Global climate change and the response of terrestrial ecosystems have been increasingly attracting academic attention [1]
One line of literature considers that climate factors may be or more important in promoting vegetation dynamics compared with human activities [7,8]
The area with extremely high coverage (> 80%) accounted for 1.03% (Figure 3a); The overall vegetation coverage in the study area showed a downward trend with an annual decline rate of −0.0006/a (Figure 3b); there was a downward trend of fractional vegetation cover (FVC) accounting for 61.88% of the total area, as well as an upward trend aScucsotauinnabtiilnitgy 2f0o2r0,3182.,1522%14
Summary
Global climate change and the response of terrestrial ecosystems have been increasingly attracting academic attention [1]. The changes in vegetation cover are influenced by the interaction between climate factors and human activities [3]. One line of literature considers that climate factors may be or more important in promoting vegetation dynamics compared with human activities [7,8]. Due to the scarcity of precipitation and large evaporation, vegetation growth is extremely sensitive to precipitation, and the correlation between vegetation coverage and precipitation is higher [11]; temperature has no significant effect on the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) [12] Another line of literature argues that the impact of human activities on changes in vegetation cover is increasingly significant [13], which may be the main driving force of vegetation dynamics [14,15,16].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
